Projection light source and light beam modifier combination



July 22,1952 y -www .I l PROJECTION L LIGHT l n I Flled Jan 2l 1949 A. HAHN f IGHT SOURCE AND. BEAM MODIFIER com :IIN

's sheets-sheet 2 c.' A. HAHN PROJECTION LIGHT 'SOURCE AND L from the central area.

narran srarss PATENT 4rRoJEo'rioN Llenar sonnen AND LIGHT 1 BEAM Monxrxnn coMmNA'rloN l omnes A. Hahn, chieaga'ni. s w Application January 21, i949. sei-iai No. '11,981

401mm. (C1. 881-24) This invention relates to devices for use 'with light beams having characteristics ofcross sectional noir-uniformity, by means of which such characteristic can be eliminated, and the light beam made substantially uniform throughout its cross section.

An example-of a light beam having a non' uniform cross 'section is the beam produced by a system comprising a high intensity arc lamp and a collector such as a condensing lens or reflector, focussed to produce an image'at a plane spaced from the collector. The light emitting source of a high intensity arc comprises the positive carbon crater, and, as will later be set forth in greater detail. the light emitted throughout the area of the crater is not uniform. The light emitting area of the crater comprises a central circular portion of quite uniform, intense white light and a surrounding annular area that emits light of different intensity from that of thc central area, that is non-uniform in that its intensity dimin ishes as the outer edge of the area is approached, and contains .a much higherpercentagc of light of the shorter wave lengths than does the light Thus the h'igh intensity are source emits light having different characteristics of both intensity `and wave length content. Other sources, such asan incandescent filament, do not have such markedly differing and sharply defined areas, but in general have central areas emitting quite uniform light,- and surrounding areas that'emi't light that diminishes ln intensity toward the outer margins of the source.

. In projecting transparencies, such as motion pictures or slides.V it is conventional practice to so focus the collecting device as to produce at or near an aperture an image of the light'source sufficiently enlarged that the image of the central area of uniform illumination of the light source s.

coversthe aperture. thereby illuminating it with beam, such portions are by reflection redirected.

so as to pass through the aperture withgsuch distribution of their light content throughout the aperture area as to avoid formation of an image of the part of the light source from whlch' they are emitted. In this way salvaging is ac'complished of a large' part -of the ligh-t that is wasted by the conventional practice of masking out part of the image, while the nonuniform illumination 'of the aperture' thatl results from registering.' with v the aperture a complete image of the source, is

substantial uniformity throughout its area.` while the part of the image formed by light that emanates from the other area of the source fai-ls on the structure surrounding the area, and is there- Aby masked from the projection lens. This praci tlceof masking out unwanted or unusable part's f fof an image 'of the light source, and projecting the remainder of the image onto a screen serves to illuminate such screen with satisfactory univ formity, but involves the waste of a large per- The invention presents the additional :ativantage of providing ready reshaping of the cross section of the beam, so it can be matched with an aperture ofma shapediierent'from that of the source. as when an arc lamp is used to illuminate a rectangular projection aperture. l; l

A primary object of the invention is-lthe provision of n. device for usc with a light beam of nonuniform cross section, whereby a portion of the beam havingn characteristic that differs vfrom that of another part isvri'cdirecte'dir in't'o the path of suchother part.

Another object is the provision of 'a device for use with a light beam focussed to form an image of. a light source having a nonuniform light emitting area. which will intercept a part of the beam having light focussed to form a part of an image having an illuminating characteristic different from that of another part, and redirected-such light into the path of another part of the beam focussed to form'such part of the image.

Another object is the provision of such a device that will modify a' light beam of nonuniforrn cross section, to produce a lightv beam of substantially u niform cross section;

An additional object o f the invention is to provide a light beam modifying device capable of changing eitheror both the cross sectional size -and shape of a light beam toproduce' n. beam of desiied size and shape containing in substantially centage of the light content of the beam at the aperture.

The present invention provides means whereby instead of masking from the projection lens uniform distribution a large percentage of'the light content of the original beam.

A further object is 'the provision of a ligh beam modifier Athat so'directs thelight rays in' .the modified beam as to reduce 'the f-speed reqr'iirements of projection lenses, as compared yto those used in conventional systems to project part of an image of alight source.

Still another object is the provision of a light beam modifier of suiliciently low. cost to accoxn- Y' l plish a substantial saving in expense as compared to optical systems. of standard arrangement.

tion.

Figs. 5 to 9 and l0 to 12 are generally schematic ,i areas outside that of the gas body views showing various forms' may talle.

Fig. is an'end elevation of the form of device shown in Fig. 9.

Fig. 13 is a longitudinal section .of a modled form of the invention.

Figs 14 and 15 are end elevations of devices yconstructed in acc'brdance'with Fig.. 13.

, Fig. 16 is a diagrammatic illustration of an ex- -trerne form of the invention.

Fig. 17 is a sectional view `of the invention to the exciter optical system of a sound motion picture assembly.

Fig.-18 is an end elevationrof the form of the i f invention shown in Fig. 17.

Describing the drawings in detail and rst re- .ferring to Fig. l and Fig. 2, a collector, shown as a lcondenser lens 20, is arranged to coilectlight from a high intensity positive arc carbon-crater 2|,- and is focussed to produce an image of the crater at the plane of the entrance side of a rec tangular aperture 22. The positive arc carbon 23 comprises a core 24 of flame-producing material Fig. 4 is a side 'elevation of a form of the inven- I gins of the `carbon 2 5 and image b, and the inner, straight margins of the :emitted at the corresponding margins 'of the that the invention showing application segments 29 of the area fall rounding the aperture.

In Figs. 1 and 2, the corresponding outer marimage are designated a, those of the flame 26 and central area 2l ofthe on the structure sursegnients 29 c. The lines ai, az; b1, b2: ci and ci. represent paths of laterally extreme light rays source and focussed by the lens 20 to form theimage margins. The shading between the light ray paths of Fig..1 corresponds to that of the areas of i the image, Fig. 2,- on' which falls the'light travel- 'K ling between such paths. The inventioncomprises a device for intercepting. the lightj emanating from the area of the sourcebetwcen margins d and b. and'redirecting such light to fall within the area ofthe aperture 22. As will later'appear, the shape of the beam also is so modiiied. byl intercepting the lightemanating from ythe segmental areas of the source between margins b and c-and redirecting it into the rectangular area enclosed-bymarg'in c Iof the image, and so a large part of the light that is lost bythe conventional practice ofmask'ing out light emanating from the source area bounded by margins c and av is salvaged by being i directed throughthe aperture. This light is so redirected as to distribute it throughout the area of the aperture. so that its non-uniform character is lost. and its addition to the light produced by the flame does not render the total beam appreciably non-uniform, but does increaseits intensity.

and a surrounding sheath 25 of current-conducting material such as copper coated carbon. A so called "name," comprising a body 26 of incandescent gas is formed in the crater, and this body of gas comprises the area of the source emitting high intensity and substantially uniform light.

of the flame, which light proceeding from part of the visible spectrum, so appears white.

The light emitted by the carbon sheath has a high percentage of the shorter wave lengths of the visible spectrum. The total-light emitted bythe high intensity throughout the visible spectrum from about"310. 0

to 'i500 angstrom units. As indicated,y the light emitted from the carbon sheath differs in per centage content of wave lengths and intensity from that emitted bythe flame, and when a collecting device is focussed to form an image of the source. such light forms a generally conical sheath about a conical core of light emitted by the flame.

AReferring to Fig. 2 it will be seen that the focus o the condenser 2D is such as to direct the light to form an image including' a circular central part 21 that is an image of the name 26, sufficiently enlarged to extend to the corners of the aperture 22, andan annular image 28 of the end oi the carbon sheath shape between the circular gas body 2 6 andthe rectangular aperture 22,l and the necessity of extending the area 2l to the corners of the aperture,

arc includes wave lengths ranging 25. Due to the difference in -redirect the light between paths ari and 1 and Redirection of the annuler part of the l-i'ghtmY v beam between ray-paths ai and bi, and a2, and bz, y f

is accomplished by interposing in the path of such light, reecting surfacesdisposed at a loca- `tion ahead of the aperture, as between it an'da transverseplane 30, and arranged at such angles "l as to direct the light toward the aperture. f In Fig. 3 the device comprises :an elongated light transmitting structure 3i having an entrance end 32, which may be circular'and of a diameter to be slightly larger than the light beam .at the plane 30 wherein such end lies, and an exit end 33 approximately matching thesize of the aperture 22. Between the two ends extend surfaces 34, which are highly internallyreective. The angular relation of the` surfaces 34 t` the light paths that they intercept 'are such as to an and bz, toward the aperture 22. /f The schematic illustration of the mode df oper? ation o-f the invention, Fig. 3, does not/disclose modification of. the shape of the beam't'o match Y' itto a rectangular aperture. Provision" for su h modification of the cross sectional shape'of t e v beam is disclosed by Fig. 4, whereinfthe device i comprisesIl a body of transparent material the exit -end 35 of which is rectangular, and matches the shape and approximately the size of the rectangular aperture 35. From' the respective straight sides of the rectangular exit end 35, at

surfaces 31 extend, inclined outwardly and reart 'l 'l .i

wardly to merge with a generally conical surface 3B that tapers forwardly and inwardly from the' entrance end 39.

The material of whiclrthe body is 'formed has a characteristic of high internal surface, reflection, which may be improved, or provided by an external coating of reflecting. material,`as silver.

applied to'surfaces 31 and 38. These reflecting surfaces; as indicated' by the light ray paths an etc. redirect -light that is bythecondenser 20 .directed to form parts of an image lying outside Y the aperture 35. to emerge from the rectangular exit end 35 of the device. The flat surfaces 3l shape the beamto match the rectangular form of theaperture, and a large part of the redirected light passes through-the aperture.

Figs. 3 and 4, for purposes of comparison with Fig. 1 and with the conventional practice of masking out an unwantedv portion of an' enlarged image ofthe light source.' disclose beam modifyj .ing devices designed for use with a'condenser that focuses the light to form an enlarged image aperture. another part o such angles as to fall pdtside the aperture, while still other parts olf/"the light emerge at such i of the light source at the plane of the aperture.- It will be seen in each of these figures that.'

although the light beam is compressed by the modifying device to the size andapproximate shape of the aperture. and part of the hiterspted light that is reflected to paths' extending through the exitiends of the devi-ces )asses through the j/e 'light emerges at angles to the axis/as to be useless for projection. The angular/dispersion of the light reflected by the intercepting surfaces of the device can be improved in' either or both of two general ways. One is to change the angle of the reflected light 'rays by optical treatment of the beam as it emerges from the exit end of 'the device; the

' other is to select the angle of incidence of the .intercepted rays .on the reflecting surfaces. Various forms of these two general methods can be used, either alone or in a wide variety of combinations selected to produce most desirable results in a given situation.

A method of selecting the angle of incidence of rays on tlie reflecting surface is by adjustmentof.

the speed angle of the beam-by selection of the focal characteristics of the collecting device and of its position relative to the light source. An,-

-surfaces of the beam modifying device. Still another is by optical treatment of the beam as it enters the device.j These various expedients may be used singly or in any combination.

'Fig 5sho \vs a device -arranged for use with `a light beam that is focussed toforma small image of the light source at a plane 40 spaced a substantlal distance in advance of the aperture l. The f speed of the beam, as shownby lines al. a2; ci. c2. is low as compared to that of the beam of Fig. i. The modifying device comprises a cylindrical portion 42 extending forward from the entrance' end 43, a rectangular exit end 44. and fiat surfaces 45 that are inclined outwardly and l Vrearwardly from the exit end sides tomerge with the cylindrical. surface 42;. It will be noted that the angles of incidence 4of the ray paths representedby the lines ai, etc.. ontlie reflecting surfaces 42 or 44 are such as to direct` all-of the reflected light to the aperture 4l'.-

1 Figs. 6 and 'I show optical treatment .atgtlfie-- exitend's oflthe devices of Figs. 3 and 5. .In' f Fig. 6 the exit end 32 ofthe device is providedv with a conyex lens surface 46 that serves to alter l the highly divergent character of the emerging reflected light of Fig. 3 and direct a much greater percentage of such light through the aperture. In Fig-7 the vsharply converging reflected light emerging from thejexit end M'of Fig. isaltered by a concave lens surface 4l to more nearly parallel. relation to the axis of the system.

' In Fig. 8 the light paths ai. etc., are changed by a concave lens surface 48 at the entrance'end 49 of thedevice. by means of which light between the ray paths ai, c1 and az, c2'. which otherwise would pass direct' through the aperture. is diverted to incidence with the reiiecting surfaces.

'5 In this form of thedevice', since the rays are made to diverge they are directed to the surfaces ad jacent which they enter, rather vthan crossing to opposite surfaces as in previously described forms. The angles of incidence therefore are 10 yery small.

Obviously the light emanating from the area of the source between margins a and cv may be optically treated at `either or both the entrance and exit ends of va device the configuration of which has been selected for use with a collecting- #and focussing system designed izo/produce a beam of low f speed. In Fig. 9 the raypaths a1,-etc.. are selected to form a small image similar to that ofFig. 4. In order to decrease the angle of incidence of rays in paths ai. c2. a convex lens surface 50 is formed at the entrance end of tlie' device. The rays in paths az, c: enter near the 'vertex of the lens and are not materiallydev fiected. Since the rays in paths ai, c2 are refiected twice. their final angle is quite large, and

an optical surface, shown as a convex lens 53, Ais

formed at the exit end to improve their angle ofemergence.'

Figs. 11 and l2 show a different method of se- 9 lecting the angles of incidence upon the reflecting ."5

surfaces o f the rays that are -to be refiected. In

thisform of device the forms of the collector are such that there is a marked difference in the angular relation to the axis of the correspondingrays on opposite sides of the'beam. such as ai. ci and az and c2. In order to make the angles of the light paths on the refiectingsur- `faces as small as possible, instead of'a continuous taper. the body may have sections of 40. difierent'diarneters, each such section presenting other is by selection of the angle ofthe reflecting to the-light rays that fall on it av reflecting surface extending at an angle to the ray direction much smaller" than couldbe presented by the surfaces of a continuously tapered body. In Fig.-

, il, the body has rear and forward cylindrical sections 54' and 55, which may be connected by `an axially concave section 5B. The angular rela'- tion between the Vrays ai. ci and az. e2. is such that they fall respectively on surfaces that are' not related to them at as largev angles as would be presented by correspondmg surfaces of a conical body, while the desired redirection of the ,rays is accomplished. The axial configuration of such a body maybe varied widely1 and certain sections may even be made divergent in the direction of light travel to provide advantageous angles of incidence. In Fig-12 the body is shown as having axially concave' surfaces El.

It will be evident -that'any of the forms of modifying devices described above' may be pro- -vided with any type of optical. surface at its' ."entrance and exit ends, and such surfaces may be l .arranged in any combination. The term "optical surface" ismeant to include either a convex, concave or plane surface.

Figs. 13. i4 and 15 show the iight beam' modi- Afying device in the form Vof a tapered tube 58 cated by the dotted line BD.- and the taper may besuch that' the annular. section of the' beam tangular exit end G5'.

*l between margins d and c is intercepted by the inclined internal surfaces 59 and directed to the exit end of the tube.

In Fig.v 16 the generally conical device 6l constitutes the entire optical system that collects light and directs it to the aperture. It-extcnds from a point adjacent to the source Bilton point adv jacent the aperture 63. and has an optical surl face 64 at its entrance end. and a smaller rec- The optical surface 54 may -be designed to direct the extreme light ray paths "ar, aa etc., into incidence with the inclined in-l ternal reflecting surfaces at advantageous angles.

El for passage of a beam of light through a sound track on a film 68 and'onto a light sensitive cell 69. lThe film GB maybe trained about a drum 10.

i: `with the sound track voverhanging the edge of a the drum. Instead of .directing a large beam of light onto a mask with a slit aperture'to form `s. long narrow light spot onvthe film as is conventional, a light beam modifier 'il isinterposed between the lamp 65 and sound track. The modiiler somewhat resembles thatot Fig. 9. but its forward portion is wedge shaped, a pair of its exit end 'I3 to render thelatter extremely narrow 'largepartof the light from the exciter lamp 65 "is directed-into a beam havingthe cross sectional "shape and size required for translating the sound track variations into iight variations. Thek sys- Al--tem is much more efficient than prior art arrangements involving formation of a light beam then willform a beam. containing a high per.- centage o-f the light emitted by the lamp. and slightly larger in cross section than Athe slit. A 1 reflecting surface 15 may be arranged in the housing 66. Each of the devices disclosed above is based on the concept of intereeptlng the portions of a light beam that would form parts of an image unusable forproper illumination of an aperture, and by l l reflection directing' such parts of the beam' I' through the aperture in such distribution as to provlde a substantially uniform increase in illumination throughout the area of the aperture.

tel-posing the reflecting surfaces directly in the pathof" such light, or by directing such light into incidence with the surfaces. The d-istribution of the reflected light in the aperture, and the angular relation to the axis of the directions of its travel. may be selected by either or both controlling the emerging reflected light by optical means through which the light passes after re'- flectiorh or by selection of the angle of incidence Suchv I angle may be selected by'any orali of. adjust- 'y aiment of the j speed of the beam, by adjustment 5 of the light on the reflecting surfaces.

of the angular position, or of the axial configuration of the vreflecting surfaces, or by optical con- 4 Y trol of the light prior to its reflection.

As stated in the. preliminary portion of the de- :fscription of the invention. the primary purpose..

" of the devices herein disclosed is to reduce the i' waste of llghtat the aperture by salvaging a large 76 Figs. l'l and 18 disclose a quite dilerent use ofV v' the device. in the optical system of a lm sound f pickup. Inthe system of Fig. l'l. an exciterlamp E5 is enclosed by a housing 66 having an opening flat sides -I2 being inclined inwardly toward the and transversely elongated to approximately the width of the sound track. as' indicated inthe exit, end elevation of Fig. l8. By this. arrangement, a l

of substantial Vcross section and masking out.v a large part of such beam by slit aperture strucy ture. A slit may b'c used wththe modifier if desired, as indicated at 14, Fig. 17. The modifier Interception may be accomplished either'by in- 2,604,0osf part of the-light lost by masking in conventional practice. The increasein eillciency of aperture illumination is such that a marked'increase can be accomplished in the illumination of the aperture by sources of given capacity.` A given illumination may also 4be accomplished bya light source of much lower intensity. Use of -light sources of reduced capacity will-result in marked decrease Vin cost of equipment, such as generatorspconvel-ters, 'cables and other -electrical equipment, and in power consumption and maintenanceas well.

made from the specific forms disclosed above by v way of example. The scope of the invention and f the protection afforded it are tobe determined by the appended claims.

l. The .combination with an electric arc light j source and means for collecting and concentrating light emitted therefrom into a' projection 'beam having a central core of lightemitted by the arc flame of said 'source and a surrounding Y v sheath of light emitted by carbon structure surrounding the flame, of a device for modifying -sa-id light beam to a condition of .cross-sectional uniformity, said device having an optically clear entrance end axially aligned with said beam'and of `size and shape to admit said core portion and' at least a substantial part of said sheath portion.

toward said exit end. j 2. I-heA combination'wlth an electric arc light source and means for collecting light emitted by said source into a converging beam having a central conical'core portion of light emitted by the arc flame of said source and a surrounding conical sheath of light emittedfby carbon structure surrounding said flame, of a light-beam modifying device interposed in the beam path in coaxial alignment therewith, 'said device comprising means surrounding thc bearnaxis and zproviding an internal reflective surface laterally enclosing a light pathhaving a minimum crosssection of at least two angularly related dimensions substantially equal to the diameter of the beamcore portion in the plane of said minimum path cross-section. said device having an optically clear exit end having dimensions at least as great as those of said minimum p'ath crosssection and` an optically clear entrance end of size and shape to admit said beam corel portion and at least a substantial part of said sheath por- `tion. and said reflective surface interconnecting said ends, being interposed in the path of said sheath portion.' and-throughout its periphery-bel y 'ing inwardly inclined in the-direction of said exit end toward the beam path axis at an angle greater than the angle of inclination of the most external rays of said sheath portion admitted by said entrance end.

v 3 The combination Awith structure forming an optical aperture of a size for projection of pictures from transparencies, an electricarc lightsource and means for collecting light emitted by It is to be understood thatv the .nature of the y -invention is -such that many variations can be said source and forming it into a beam having 'a core portion of light emitted by the are name trance and exit ends of size, shape and optical characteristics to respectively admit said bear-n core portion and at least a substantial proporv tion of said sheath portion. and to direct toward -said aperture a part of said core portion o'f a cross-section substantially matching said aperture in size and shape, said entrance and exit ends respectivelybeing directly exposed to said I' collecting `means and to said aperture, and said device providing an internally reilective surface laterally enclosing between said ends, a portion f ,ofl a iight path that is optically clear between g said collecting means and said aperture said re. `f'lectlve surface having a peripheral configuration and an axial angular-relation to the beam path axis for intercepting portions of the beam surrounding said core portion part and by reflec` tion directing light that it intercepts into thesa-id exit end.

l path of said beam coreportion part and toward 4. The combination with structure forming an l optical aperture, an electric arc light source and means for collecting light emitted by said source and forming it into a beam having a conical core portion of light emitted by the arc flame of said source andvdirected by said collecting and form'- ing means to have at the plane of said aperture a diameter at leastas great asthe diagonal of i ille of this patent: I

Y UNITEDBTATES PATENTS .Number Name lDate.

' 1,191,145 "'.Baldwin July 18, 1916 1,417,089 Meehan May 23, 1922 1,544,836 Haines' j July '1, 1925 1,573,419 Pambrun Feb, 16, 192.6 1,717,234 Lentini 'June 11. 1929 1,880,414' Capstai- Oct. 4, 1932 2,027,519- .D avis et al. Jan. 14, 1936 2,031,971 Morrissey -i- Fence, 1936 2,077,102 Fardon Ap!. 13, 1937 2,184,816 'Ross Dec. 26, 1939 2,186,143 Neugass L Jan. 9, 1940 2,240,402 f Jorosiow- Apr. 29, 1941` 2,247,258 Shepard L-- June 24, 1941 y Hickman e- '--`...--f -Dec. 21, 1943 said aperture. of a. beam modifying device ity` f f the area'of saidap'ertureL l 10 f l terposed in the path' of said beam, 'said device having a round optically clear entrance end,I of a. diameter to admit the entire beam, a'coiiical internally reflective surface adjacent said ,en trance end,.an optically clear rectangular exit' end registered with said aperture.- and plane internally reflective lsurfaces inclining outwardly` from the sides of said exit end-toward said entrance end and merging with said conicalsurface, said internally i'eilective surfaces beingfinclined relative to the'axis of said beam and with respect to its speed angle to intercept-"and redirect toward said exit end light directed by said y collecting and directing means to fall' outside :cHAnLasba HAHN.

A REFERENCES crrm) f y The following references are of lrecordinthe 

